A variable voltage and frequency output wind turbine. Variations of the wind turbine include use of a slotless alternator to reduce alternator noise, a high power ac output to facilitate transmission of the output over extended distances, ac to dc converters and dc to ac converters, and sensors for systems and devices to receive the wind turbine output and to allow matching of the output to the receiving devices and system. Other features include a removable hatchcover for dissipating heat from components contained in the turbine or attached to the hatchcover, a swept blade design to reduce blade-produced noise, and power storage components for storing and intermittently using energy stored as a result of wind turbine power generation.
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1. A wind turbine, comprising:
an electrical output device including a plurality of winding portions;
at least one wind driven blade operatively coupled to the electrical output device, wherein movement of the at least one wind driven blade produces output from the coupled electrical output device;
an inverter coupled to the electrical output device;
a bi-directional inverter coupled to the inverter;
a storage device coupled to the bi-directional inverter;
a controller coupled to the inverter and configured to control the output of the electrical output device via stall regulation; and
a shutdown switch coupled to each of the plurality of winding portions, the shutdown switch being capable of increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine;
wherein the stall regulation is controlled via shorting of at least one of the plurality of winding portions.
23. An active variable frequency wind turbine for providing outputs to variable frequency loads, the wind turbine comprising:
an electrical output device, the electrical output device producing a variable frequency ac output depending on device speed;
at least one wind driven blade operatively coupled to the electrical output device, wherein variable movement of the at least one wind driven blade produces ac output from the coupled electrical output device;
an ac to dc converter coupled to the electrical output device;
a dc to ac converter coupled to the ac to dc converter, the dc to ac converter being coupled to a load;
a controller coupled to the dc to ac converter, the controller being capable of controlling the dc to ac converter to vary output from the dc to ac converter depending on an output selection for the load coupled to the dc to ac converter;
a housing that houses the electrical output device and the ac to dc converter;
a wind turbine sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the controller controls operation of the wind turbine as function of input received by the wind turbine sensor; and
a shutdown switch coupled to each of a plurality of winding portions of the electrical output device, the shutdown switch being capable of increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine.
3. The wind turbine of
4. The wind turbine of
5. The wind turbine of
6. The wind turbine of
7. The wind turbine of
a first sensor for sensing the dc load; and
a second sensor for sensing the ac load;
wherein the controller controls operation of the wind turbine as a function of input received by the first and second sensors.
8. The wind turbine of
10. The wind turbine of
11. The wind turbine of
a sensor coupled to the storage device, wherein the controller controls operation of the wind turbine as a function of input received by the sensor.
14. The wind turbine of
15. The wind turbine of
17. The wind turbine of
18. The wind turbine of
21. The wind turbine of
22. The wind turbine of
24. The wind turbine of
a sensor for sensing the load;
wherein the output from the dc to ac converter varies with the varied load.
32. The wind turbine of
33. The wind turbine of
34. The wind turbine of
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This application claims priority to applicant's copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/699,940 titled “UNIVERSAL WIND TURBINE” filed Jul. 15, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of wind turbine power generation, and in particular to a wind turbine that can be utilized on a utility grid, that is able to provide a wide range of frequency and voltage output, that can be used as a stand-alone power source, and that includes manufacturing and distribution cost and noise reduction features that increase the range of applications.
2. Background of the Related Art
Small-scale wind turbines are in wide and growing use. Small-scale wind turbines are typically used to charge battery banks or to feed power into utility lines. Present wind turbines, however, typically have several weaknesses. They often lack versatility and durability, perform below needed performance levels, fail to provide sufficient cost-effectiveness, and generate unacceptable levels of audible noise. If these benefits were realized, the result would be a turbine that is more attractive for residential and other uses.
For example, one weakness with prior art turbines is their limited ability to perform multiple functions or to be used for a wide range of applications. One turbine design can be used for grid-connected operation. Another design can charge a battery bank for backup to the grid. A third design could be used without the grid as the solitary powering device. However, a different method of connection for each wind generator is required for these uses. Also, depending on the specific application (e.g., to provide a battery bank for stand-alone use), the turbine design often needs to be modified for site-specific conditions (e.g., to provide power at a selected voltage). As a result, prior art wind turbines, which are typically not capable of use in a wide variety of settings, require the manufacturer to stock and distribute a wide variety of wind turbine designs, thereby also complicating manufacturing and inventory logistics.
Another weakness of prior art turbines is the cost and sub-optimal performance of the alternator typically used. Prior art alternators typically contain slots of steel that hold a number of copper windings, which, in connection with the use of permanent magnets, convert the energy of the wind to electrical output. In the prior art design, the slots have often tended to vibrate when in operation. The vibration produces an unacceptable noise and a cogging torque that prevents the wind turbine from starting up or interferes with startup in lower winds. Additionally, prior art alternators typically have low stall torque and high manufacturing costs. A new alternator design is needed that eliminates unnecessary vibrations, increases the stall torque, and decreases manufacturing costs.
Capacitors incur another cost and reliability problem for the single-phase inverters typically used with prior art generators. The main capacitors in prior art turbines are required for storing energy for the oscillating 50 or 60 Hz power level typically produced. However, capacitors add a costly element to the turbine, one that may need replacement or repair over the life of the generator. A system is needed that can use, for example, the kinetic energy of the rotating blades to store energy. Such a kinetic system would increase the life and decrease the cost of the wind turbine system.
In addition, prior art rotor blades in down-wind turbines often generate undesired audible noise during blade rotation. For example, a thump may sound as each blade enters the plane downwind from the turbine's tower, where it experiences a momentary decrease in wind speed. When the rotor turns quickly, many audible thumps are generated, producing undesirable noise. An improved blade design is needed to reduce the sound of the thump, especially for residential areas.
The present invention addresses the needs and weaknesses identified above, as well as others, to provide a wind turbine having reduced noise, cost, and inefficiency compared to the prior art. Embodiments of the wind turbine of the present invention also include specialized housing and blades designs to reduce audible noise. The present invention further relates to a specialized power output device, such as an alternator, that is usable to provide power for other, non-wind power applications, such as vehicles (e.g., bicycles, automobiles).
The turbine of the present invention provides power at a relatively high voltage level (e.g., around 100 V or 200 V or more, compared with the typical 12, 24, 36, or 48 VDC output of small prior art wind turbines), thereby allowing the wind turbine to be located remotely from a load that it is serving, without significant electrical losses. A backup battery or a DC load can be connected to the power output from the wind turbine by interfacing such a component through a device for producing an appropriate output, if necessary, such as a bi-directional inverter that allows power to flow out and into the inverter and, as appropriate, back to the supply (e.g., the battery), as is typical for inverters designed to run, among other things, inductive loads, that could cause voltage spikes if the inverter were not capable of absorbing power and directing such power back to the battery. For example, a battery can be connected to the wind turbine that is separate from the turbine system (e.g., for use for separate storage of energy), a battery can be connected as backup to the grid (e.g., as a battery backup for residential use, in the event of loss of turbine output), or a load can be connected without the use of a battery. When connected to a battery, excess power can be stored until a time when the load is higher than the wind turbine output, for example. Other DC and AC loads may similarly be connected to the output of the wind turbine, including a pump, a compressor, a heater, a cathodic protection device, a DC to DC converter, an electrolizer, and/or a transformer.
In one potential application of the present invention, the wind turbine is connected only to a DC load. In prior art wind turbines, the electrical power from the wind turbine was delivered to the load as relatively low voltage DC power. In some embodiments of the present invention, power is transmitted from the wind turbine to the load as relatively high voltage AC power. In this variation of the present invention, a rectifier or other AC to DC converter can be provided in a location physically near the DC load, so as to vary frequency to optimize transformer efficiency and cost.
Since power in this variation is transmitted as high voltage AC power, a transformer or other voltage conversion device can be used to convert the voltage to a level that is appropriate for the DC load. In this way, any electrical losses associated with transmitting power from the wind turbine to the load can be minimized. However, additional losses can result from the use of a transformer. At low power levels, core losses dominate for the transformer, whereas current related losses for the transformer dominate at high power levels. The overall transformer losses can be minimized by utilizing a DC to AC converter, such as an inverter, so as to produce output of the wind turbine at variable frequency, depending on the power level. At low power levels, when core losses from the transformer dominate, the frequency of the output device can be set lower, so as to offset these losses. At high power levels, the frequency of the output device can be increased, thereby minimizing transformer current related losses.
The alternator in one embodiment of the present invention has a generally radial shape and includes a winding portion and a rotor portion. The winding portion includes coil windings formed from flat conductor material and emplaced around a core of magnetic flux conducting material. The rotor portion includes permanent magnets are attached to a rim, or the rotor otherwise produces magnetic fields (e.g., magnetic fields are generated by, or created upon a portion or portions of, the rotor). In some embodiments, the rim comprises a magnetic flux conducting material, such as a ferrous material. This variation eliminates or greatly reduces the audible noise of vibrating slots of the prior art and is capable of producing much greater stall torque over prior art alternators (e.g., approximately double the stall torque of some prior art generators has been achieved). The new alternator design also reduces or eliminates cogging torque at startup.
Another benefit of the alternator of this embodiment (also interchangeably referred to herein as the “radial, slotless alternator”) is the low manufacturing cost. The conductor coils are wound on a manufacturing machine and located peripherally to a magnetic field emitting rotor upon final assembly. The manufacturing reproducibility of the design of the radial, slotless alternator is therefore inexpensive. Although the radial, slotless alternator is one embodiment of the present invention, other alternator designs would still operate well, in conjunction with the rest of the invention.
An embodiment of the present invention makes use of a boost alternator system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,718 to Calley et al., titled “WIND TURBINE CONTROLLER,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. With the boost alternator, a switching device, such as a field effect transistor (FET) or an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), along with at least one diode, momentarily shorts each alternator winding to allow energy storage within the internal inductance of the alternator. When the switching device reopens, the energy stored in the alternator's inductance is released, temporarily boosting the output voltage. The present invention incorporates a variation of the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,718 by providing a switch for shorting on either the AC or DC side of the rectifier to achieve a boost mode function. The boost mode feature is incorporated in some embodiments of the present invention.
Embodiments of the present invention include one or more sensors and appropriate signal processing capabilities to allow detection of the voltage and frequency of the system or device to which output is to be provided, or to provide other sensed input, such as blade revolution per minute (RPM), wind speed, or power output. Based upon the sensed characteristics of the system or device to which output is to be provided, as determined, for example, by a controller, output is adjusted appropriately so as to allow integration with and operation at the appropriate voltage and frequency of the system or device to which the output is to be delivered. The universal capabilities of this feature simplify the manufacturing and distribution of the wind turbine because a single system can be manufactured and sold to operate with a wide range of electrical grids and other applications. A single controller may also control multiple turbines or portions thereof.
One embodiment involves installation of a DC to AC converter, such as an inverter, and controller within a housing, such as a nacelle of cast metal (such as aluminum) or other suitable material. This arrangement reduces the cost and utilizes the inductance of the windings of the alternator instead of necessitating use of a separate and costly inductor. Die-cast aluminum or another highly heat-conductive material is used, and the DC to AC converter and controller are located just inside of one end of the housing so that air or other fluid outside of the housing enhances heat dissipation from these devices. Another advantage of locating these and other features within the housing is that effects of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and physical and other vulnerabilities are minimized or reduced. By locating control circuitry close to the turbine, such as inside the housing and before slip rings or other power transmission components, including connecting lines and other physically or electrically vulnerable or EMI-emitting features, potential for interference with transmission is greatly reduced.
Among other things, the present invention reduces or eliminates the need for capacitors for single-phase inverters typically used with prior art generators for storing energy for the oscillating 50 or 60 Hz power level typically produced. The present invention is able to use the kinetic energy of the rotating blades to store energy to perform the functions typically performed by such capacitors used with prior art generators. In one embodiment, the stored energy is further usable to correct power factor (e.g., provide volt amps reactive, also referred to herein as “VARs”) when supplying output to a power grid or other load. In some embodiments, for this application a bi-directional inverter is used with the present invention.
In one embodiment, the housing includes features for attachment of the DC to AC converter and controller to a removable hatchcover. As air flows around the heat-conductive housing, the heat generated by the devices is drawn away from the inverter inside, thereby cooling the system, without necessitating the use of additional fans or other cooling equipment. Another benefit of using a casing made of a conductive metal or other similarly propertied material is that the casing thereby reduces electromagnetic interference with regard to the equipment shielded thereby. Although this variation provides one possible housing design for the present invention, the present invention typically will operate without these housing design features. The invention will also typically operate with housings of various shapes, sizes or materials, including housings having a tail-vane.
The blades in the present invention are designed to reduce undesired noise associated with operation of prior art (downwind) wind generators. Unlike prior art devices, the blades in the present invention have a curved tip. As a result, in operation, the root of the blade enters the downwind cross section of the tower first, with the rest of the blade gradually passing the tower, followed lastly by the blade's tip. The phased entrance of the blade into the cross section of the tower reduces tonal noise because the portion of the blade that is entering or exiting the tower cross section at any given moment in time is minimized. The blades of one embodiment are made of glass reinforced polyester, which can be multi-part compression molded and made with a multi-part injection mold, for example. Forming the blades using this material allows for a consistent quality and high-volume production. However, the blades may also be made using other durable materials and may not necessarily be created with multi-part injection molds. The present invention also allows for other blade styles to be used in conjunction with the other invention features.
A two-part injection or compression molded blade may be used, for example, in which two parts of the blade include a lifting side and a pressure side. By separating the blade in this manner, rather than along the length of the blade, for example, as in some prior art, the blade may be “cored out” so that the blade is lighter (e.g., have unnecessary material removed) so that the wall thickness can be consistent. Ribbing can be added to provide greater strength and greater bond area.
Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice of the invention.
The above listed and other features and advantages of the present invention, will be apparent from the Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 12 and 13A-13C show views of the blade within and traveling through the cross-sectional area of the tower, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The blades 24 are mounted to a hub 38 (see
The pitch angle of the blades 24 relative to the hub 38 may be fixed, although embodiments of the present invention can function with variable pitch blades. The hub 38 is mounted onto or emplaced near a cast or otherwise formed housing 22. In some embodiments, the hub 38 or a shaft attached thereto engages the housing 22, such as via bearings, bushings, or other suitable minimal frictional engagement mechanism. The housing 22 of one embodiment is attached to the tower 28 by, for example, a clamp-on yaw assembly bearing that allows the housing 22 to rotate about a vertical axis A, such that the wind turbine 20 is able to adjust appropriately to changing wind direction. In the embodiment of
As further described below in conjunction with
The yaw assembly of embodiments of the present invention includes vibration/shock attenuation features. Factors contributing to vibration produced by the turbine can include out of balance rotating components, uneven air gap and electrical imbalance, change in temperature, and material resonance and defects. The vibration/shock attenuation features absorb and thereby reduce such vibration and transmission thereof to other wind turbine features, such as the tower.
As shown in
As shown in
In the variation of the present invention shown in
Attached to the hub 38 are the blades 24. In the present invention, the blades 24 are of a tapered, twisted, and curved design to maximize energy capture and minimize noise, as discussed further below. Although one embodiment uses this design, the invention will work with other blade designs.
The boost mode controller shown in
The switches 50 in the DC to AC converter 48 are controlled by a controller 54. The controller 54 coordinates operation of the switches 50 to produce AC output that is at the appropriate voltage and frequency for the AC line 58 or other output power receiving device or system to which the wind turbine is connected. Optionally, a voltage and frequency monitor 56 measures the voltage and frequency of the AC line 58 or other output power receiving device or system to which the wind turbine is connected, if applicable. The voltage and frequency monitor optionally also measures the phase angle of the AC signal on the power line 58 or other output power receiving device or system. The voltage and frequency monitor 56 may be implemented, for example, via a printed circuit board having appropriate filters and digital signal processing contained thereon. Other implementations of the voltage and frequency monitor 56 can also be used with the present invention.
If the turbine is set for grid connected mode (e.g., for connection to a commercial power grid), when the wind turbine according to the present invention is first connected to the AC power line 58 or other output power receiving device or system, for example, the controller 54 initially measures the voltage, frequency, and phase angle of the receiving device or system. The controller 54 uses the measurement to control the operation of the switches 50 in the DC to AC converter 48, such that the output of the wind turbine will be compatible with the AC power on the line 58 or other output power receiving device or system. A delay of up to several minutes may be required for certification or to meet legal requirements in certain jurisdictions when the wind turbine of
The controller 54 is then synchronizes the output of the wind turbine with the power on the AC line 58 or other output power receiving device or system. Generally, standardized values for voltage and frequency are used on a typical grid AC line 58 or other standard output power receiving device or system. For instance, the frequency of a U.S. commercial grid is most likely either 50 Hz or 60 Hz, and the voltage at a residence or business is likely to be approximately a discrete value, such as 120 VAC or 240 VAC. Different countries may have other standardized voltages (for instance Japan uses 100 and 200 VAC as standard voltages at the residential and business level), but the range of typical connection voltages for grid applications is generally standardized to a few levels.
The wind turbine controller 54, in one embodiment designed to meet specific certification requirements, determines the appropriate output by, for example, comparing the monitored voltage and frequency to a table of known standard voltages and frequencies, and the wind turbine output will not be connected if the values of voltage and frequency do not fall within an acceptable tolerance of one of the standard values. By measuring voltage and frequency and by appropriately controlling the operation of the DC to AC converter 48 to match the power on the line 58 or other output power receiving device or system, it is possible to produce a single model of wind turbine that is compatible with virtually any AC residential utility grid or other device or system that is to receive the output of the turbine. Among other things, these features greatly simplify manufacturing, distribution, stocking, and marketing logistics.
The switch 60 in the wind turbine of
One exemplary connection configuration for the wind turbine of the present invention is shown in
One feature of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in
At the point of interconnection (e.g., at a residence), a power panel 64 is typically provided, which may include circuit breakers or other protective equipment. A utility meter 66 may also be located at or near the power panel 64. An electrical load 68 may optionally be connected to the power cables 62 at the power panel 64. The electrical load 68 is shown in
A second potential configuration for connecting the wind turbine according to the present invention is shown in
A charge monitoring device 106 may be connected to the storage device 72 for the purpose of measuring the charge state of the storage device 72. The charge monitoring device 106 can transmit a signal or other information to the controller of the wind turbine 20, for example, so that when the storage device 72 is fully charged, the output of the wind turbine 20 can be reduced, such as by slowing and/or stalling the rotor or by opening the circuit. The charge monitoring device 106 can communicate with a controller within the wind turbine 20 via copper wires, a fiber optic line, or via a wireless communication link, for example. One embodiment provides a wireless communication link between the charge monitoring device 106 and a controller in the wind turbine 20. The charge monitoring device 106 may also monitor the level of the load 68, such that when the storage device 72 is fully charged, the output of the wind turbine 20 is limited so as to be appropriate for the load 68. It may be necessary to provide a transformer or other voltage conversion device, such that the storage device 72 can be used at a different voltage than the utility line 70 and/or the load 68.
The wireless device can be used for other purposes, as well. For example, in one embodiment, a user can select a “quiet” mode of operation, in which RPM or power is limited, or lower tip speed ratio (TSR) is produced, so as to reduce sound emitted.
A third potential configuration for connecting the wind turbine according to the present invention is shown in
When the wind turbine 20 generates more power than the load 68 is consuming, the excess power is diverted to the storage device 72. When the wind is low and the wind turbine 20 generates less power than is consumed by the load 68, needed additional power is drawn from the storage device 72. The normalizing device 74 thus allows power to flow either to or from the storage device 72, and the output is controllable, such that inductive loads can be served.
In addition to the load 68, which may be an AC load, for example, the configuration shown in
One exemplary embodiment provides a wireless communication link between the charge monitoring device 106 and the controller of the wind turbine 20. The charge monitoring device 106 may also monitor the level of the DC load 76, such that when the storage device 72 is fully charged, the output of the wind turbine 20 is limited, so as to be appropriate for the DC load 76. A transformer or other voltage conversion device may be needed to allow the wind turbine 20 to be used with a storage device 72 and/or a DC load 76 of different voltages from the wind turbine 20 and the load 68.
A fourth potential configuration for connecting the wind turbine according to the present invention is shown in
In the embodiment of
In this variation of the present invention, an AC to DC converter 104, such as a rectifier, is provided near the DC load 76, for example, and/or an energy storage device 72, such as a battery. Also, since the power is transmitted as high voltage AC power, a transformer or other voltage conversion device 102 may be used to convert the voltage to a level that is appropriate for the storage device 72 and/or the DC load 76. Typically, the DC load 76 might operate at a voltage of 12, 24, 36, or 48 Volts, although other voltages are possible, as a matter of design choice. A charge monitoring device 106 may be connected to the storage device 72 for the purpose of measuring the charge state of the storage device 72. The charge monitoring device 106 should communicate with the controller of the wind turbine 20, so that when the storage device 72 is fully charged, the output of the wind turbine 20 can be reduced or stopped.
The charge monitoring device 106 can communicate with the wind turbine 20 over copper wires, a fiber optic line, or via a wireless communication link, for example. One embodiment provides a wireless communication link between the charge monitoring device 106 and the wind turbine 20.
In the embodiment shown in
The relationship between frequency and power may be different than that shown in
The laminated or otherwise low loss core 78 and emplaced conductor coils 80 are surrounded by a molded section 53, such as plastic casing. The winding portion of the alternator 32, which includes the laminated or otherwise low loss core 78, the coils 80, and the molded section 53, is generally fixedly located in a housing of a turbine. In the embodiment shown in
As shown in the exemplary alternator 32 of
As best shown in
The coils 80 of the exemplary embodiment shown in
Six continuous windings are therefore formed by the coupled corresponding windings in each of the winding portion sections 53a, 53b, 53c, shown in
As shown in
As prior art blades entered and exited the tower shadow in the plane that is downwind of the tower without such sequential entrance and exit of portions of each blade, the relatively abrupt change in wind speed created an impulsive change in the blade's angle of attack, which resulted in a periodic noise being generated by the blades passage through the tower shadow. By providing a swept blade profile, among other things, the present invention solves or mitigates the issue of periodic noises that are emitted by wind turbine blades of the prior art.
Among other things, by assembling a blade 124 in the manner shown in
In some embodiments, ribbing may be added within the hollow (concave) portion 125, so as to enhance the rigidity and strength of the formed blade 124 and to increase the area for potentially bonding the blade sections 124a, 124b to one another. Exemplary such ribbing 124c is shown in one end of the second blade section 124b of
Example embodiments of the present invention have now been described in accordance with the above advantages. It will be appreciated that these examples are merely illustrative of the invention. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
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